Rob Gronkowski suffers broken arm

Monday

Nov 19, 2012 at 6:00 AMNov 19, 2012 at 11:49 AM

The Patriots KO'd the Indianapolis Colts, 59-22, yesterday, but they took a big hit of their own with time winding down in the blowout victory. Tight end Rob Gronkowski departed with about four minutes to go and didn't return with what the team confirmed afterward to be an arm injury.

By Rich Garven TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The Patriots KO'd the Indianapolis Colts, 59-22, yesterday, but they took a big hit of their own with time winding down in the blowout victory.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski departed with about four minutes to go and didn't return with what the team confirmed afterward to be an arm injury. League sources told the Boston Globe that Gronkowski had surgery this morning and could miss 4 to 6 weeks.

That was a real downer on what had literally been a perfect game for Gronkowski. He caught all seven passes to come his way, turning them into 137 yards and two touchdowns, on catches of 2 and 24 yards.

He also had receptions of 36 and 31 yards.

“We got some matchups out there, so I tried to take advantage of those where we could,” quarterback Tom Brady said.

The Patriots used Gronkowski inside and outside, where he frequently got a free release and found himself covered by a linebacker.

That was bad news for Kavell Conner, Jerrell Freeman and Pat Angerer.

“He is such a big body and fluid receiver,” Colts safety Tom Zbikowski said. “It's not like he's going to burn you with his speed, but he finds a way to get open every time. And they also have a pretty good quarterback that can put it where it needs to be.”

While Gronkowski was having a field day, sidekick Aaron Hernandez missed his third straight game and sixth of the season with a bum ankle.